The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

These ends of traditions and ceremonies were profitable to be showed to the people, and to be plainly & openly declared. But to these ends our adversaries do feign another end to be joined, through a certain pharisaical persuasion, that is to wit, that such manner observances do merit remission of since. Also that they be services necessary to justification / and that for them men be accounted righteous in the sight of god. This plainly is to honour god with gold, silver, and precious stones, and to think that god is appeased and reconciled with diversity of garments, of ornaments, and with other like things, of which there is an infinite number in the traditions of men, or else to think that such manner things be honourings of god, I mean diversities of times, of meats, of vessels, of apparel. Paul to the Colossians writeth, that traditions have the semblance and likeness of wisdom, And in very deed so have they. For that fair order is very seemly in the church, and for that cause is necessary. But mans reason, because it doth not understand the righteousness of faith: it doth naturally imagine that such manner work? justify men, and that they reconcile god unto us. &c. Such was the opinion of the common people among the Israelites, and by the reason of […] they did augment such man•r ceremonies, […] they have now increased with us in Monasteries. Such is the judgement of mans […] also▪ ⟨image 143⟩concerning the exercises of the body, & concerning fastings / whose end in very deed is to tame and to punish the flesh, but yet mans reason doth feign another end, that is to say, that they be divine honours, which justify, As Thomas writeth, that fasting is available to the putting away,¹ and to the prohibition of sin. For these be the very words of Thomas. Thus the semblance and appearance of wisdom & righteousness in such manner works, deceiveth men. Besides this, there be examples of saints / which whiles men study to follow, they often times follow the outward exercises, but they follow not the faith of them.

These endes of traditions and ceremonies were profitable to be shewedde to the people, and to be playnely & openly declared. But to these endes our aduersaries do fayne a nother ende to be ioyned, through a certeyn pharisaicall persuasion, that is to witte, that suche maner obseruaūces do merite remission of synnes. Also that they be seruices necessarye to iustification / and that for them men be accompted ryghtuous in the syghte of god. This playnly is to honoure god with golde, syluer, and precious stones, and to thīke that god is appeased and recōciled with diuersitie of garmentes, of ornamentes, and with other lyke thynges, of whiche there is an infinite numbre in the traditiōs of men, or els to thīke that suche maner tbynges be honourynges of god, I meane diuersities of tymes, of meates, of vessels, of apparayle. Paule to the Collossianes wryteth, that traditions haue the semblaunce and lykenes of wysedome, And in very dede so haue they. For that fayre ordre is very semely in the churche, and for that cause is necessarye. But mannes reason, because it dothe not vnderstande the ryghtuousnes of faythe: it doth naturally imagine that suche maner work? iustifie men, and that they reconcile god vnto vs. &c. Suche was the opinion of the comen people amoge the Israelities, and by the reason of they dyd augmēt suche manr ceremonies, they haue nowe encreased with vs in Monsteies. Suche is the iudgemēt of mānes also